Grievance Procedures

It is the policy of the Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) to be fair and judicious in all matters pertaining to students. From time to time, certain students may feel that they have been treated unfairly and may wish to file a grievance. Listed below are the levels of action matriculated students must follow in filing a grievance of an academic or administrative nature, exclusive of the admission decision, in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. There are separate appeals processes as part of the University Judiciaries, the Committee on Student Progress.

A student wishing to file a grievance is to be provided a copy of this grievance procedure.

If the student files a grievance for a class which is an elective course offered outside of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, the process is the same, but the people will be from the home college of the elective course.

Students are expected to communicate with the MSPM program director/chair at a minimum with any grievance.

Please note that these policies and procedures are developed from policies in the faculty handbook, the student handbook, and potentially policies and procedures through Ohio University and/or the State of Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Level 1

No later than six (6) weeks after the beginning of the semester following the incident(s) involved, the student must submit a written statement of the grievance to the faculty member or administrator against whom the grievance is lodged, and a copy to the Department Chair of the Engineering Technology and Management Department and the MSPM program director. Within two (2) weeks of submission of the written statement, a discussion of the issue must take place between the student and the faculty member or administrator against whom the grievance is lodged. The faculty member or administrator must respond to the student in writing within two (2) weeks of the discussion, with a copy being retained by the Chair of Engineering Technology and Management.

Level 2

If no satisfaction is achieved at Level 1, within two (2) weeks the student may request a review by the faculty member's or administrators' immediate administrative supervisor. For help in identifying this person and the process to be followed, the student may request assistance through the Russ College Deans office. The decision of the supervisor must be made within two (2) weeks and a written response sent to the student, the faculty member or administrator, and the Chair of Engineering Technology and Management.

Level 3

If no satisfaction is achieved at Level 2, within thirty (30) days the student may contact the Dean of Graduate Studies for the Russ College of Engineering and Technology and request a review of the case by the Dean. Any extension of time at this level must be approved in writing by the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies. The procedures at Level 3 are as follows:

  1. The student must submit to the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies a written statement which includes: the student's full name, address, telephone number, name of the faculty member or administrator against whom the grievance is being lodged, number of the course involved (if appropriate), background of the problem, exact nature of the grievance and statement reviewing the grievance procedures followed up to that point.
  2. The Dean of Research and Graduate Studies will inform the Dean for Academics of the grievance.
  3. The Dean of Research and Graduate Studies will provide the faculty member or administrator involved with a copy of the grievance and will request a statement in response to the grievance.
  4. The Dean of Research and Graduate Studies will contact the supervisor of the faculty member or administrator and request a report on the grievance review held at Level 2. If there is substantial reason for the grievance to move forward, the Dean of Academics will choose three faculty and/or staff members to hold a review of the grievance and make recommendations to the Dean of Academics. The chair of the Sub-Committee appointed by the Dean of Academics will schedule any future meetings on the issue.
  5. The Dean of Academics will schedule a meeting, providing the parties 30 working days for preparation time, and inform the members of the Sub-Committee, the student and faculty member or administrator of the time and place of the meeting.
  6. The Sub-Committee will review the written grievance and the faculty member's or administrator's response and then determine by majority vote of those present a recommendation to the Dean of Academics.
  7. The Dean of Academics and the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies will jointly make the final decision concerning the grievance and will notify, in writing, the student, the faculty member or administrator, the chairman of the Sub-Committee, and other appropriate parties.

In the event that the evaluation at any level cannot be completed in the typical time limits defined in this procedure, the student will be notified in writing of the new deadline.

Helpful Links and Guiding Policy References

Note: These might periodically be updated but should be easily searchable from the main ohio.edu website. Please notify PM@ohio.edu if you encounter a broken link.

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